One of the nice things about working in a leadership position is you sometimes get to choose and build your team. And every once in a while you get someone applying for a position that you know immediately not only has the potential to be a great fit, but also a great friend. And so you hire her!
Jeanette and I met back in the early 00’s (I think?) when I was working at a large lab in Kitchener. She was instrumental in helping me implement the quality management system at that place. This transplant from South Africa with the no-nonsense attitude and the easy laugh made this tough job much more bearable. Even after we both went our separate ways to other careers, we still managed to keep in touch – mostly through social media but occasionally with an IRL meetup.
When last I saw Jeanette, she and her family were living in a beautiful backsplit in Kitchener, and she was working as a Six-Sigma Black Belt for a very large corporation, and baking and decorating gorgeous cakes in her “spare” time. Impressive!
Then, a few years back I noticed a change in her Facebook posts…it looked like she had moved and become a…farmer? I knew her corporation has closed the large local plant where Jeanette was based out of, but she was sent all over the country to work and seldom there, so I didn’t think much of it. Little did I know that Jeanette has used that closure as a decision point to springboard into a new life that was better in tune with her and her husband’s values. Thus, Red Maple Homestead was born. I was and am impressed – she is actually living my hippy-dippy dream, in harmony and alignment (my WOTY!) with nature and the land, and in the process of creating a bio-diverse, sustainable homestead.
In addition to keeping various farm animals and also bees, Jeanette grows and cans a lot of her family’s food. She estimates she has enough food stored in her pantry to keep them going for at least 2 years. If the apocalypse happens, I know whose doorstep I will be landing on. 😉
We had been making plans for a couple of years now, to have me come up to the farm but they had never worked out. Now here I was freshly retired, with much more time to coordinate a visit. So this past Monday (a gorgeous sunny day for a change), I hopped in the car and headed north to Jeanette’s – about an hour and half drive from my door.
We had a great catch-up, and fell back into our friendship at her bright and sunny kitchen table like the years apart never happened. After lunch it was time to tour the farm.
After meeting all of Jeanette’s “employees” and a walk around the property where we discussed future plans for the homestead, it was back inside for a slice of pie and a tour of her passion project – spinning and weaving!
By the end of this lovely tour and primer on spinning and weaving of yarn, I was itching to pick up my needles and get to work on some of my own wool stash, back at home. Of course, I think we could all predict this was gonna happen:
What a wonderful day spent in the company of my friend! I’m looking so forward to coming back post-Barbados, and before I leave for the west coast. Jeanette and I have already made plans for my return visit, including a trip to some local businesses such as the Mennonite bakery down the road. Yes!
This trip checked so many boxes for me: meeting up with and supporting a friend, crafting, cute animals, beautiful countryside, and sustainability. And the chance to support an artisan and small business whose values align (that word, again!) with mine. Why did it take me so long to get up to Red Maple Homestead?!?!
Learn from my poor example and be sure to make the time to support your friends and small businesses and….
Rock on,
The WB
Love!
Thanks Cuz 💕
Holy Sheep’s Wool!! Where do I start on this one?!
1) Bunny!!!! I’m not sure I would have got past the rabbit. They just make my heart explode 💕💕
2) Beeswax wraps!! Love these. Your’s look like big sheets too. On my wish list for more. Since I switched to these wraps, my use of plastic wrap has become almost non-existent.
3) Wool dryer balls!! I was first introduced to these when you and I were in St John’s. I subsequently bought some when I returned to Toronto and LOVE them. I was never a fan of dryer sheets and these are wonderful.
4) I am so in awe of your friend’s wonderful new life. She has followed a passion and created a great little business in addition to living a more self-sustainable life. This city girl is a wee bit jealous 🙂
Yes, me too…until I realize the work involved with a country property. However, they say if you do what you love you’ll never work a day in your life 😁. Have a wonderful time in Dublin my friend! 🥰
Yes, I think that is an Icelandic sheep. At least that’s how I remember them when I was stationed on that island many decades ago. Or maybe it’s a unicorn.
Hah! Not a unicorn. Jeanette told me once she made some dryer balls out of dyed pink and blue wool and called them “Unicorn farts”. Unfortunately she was all out or you know I would’ve grabbed a pack of them if I could have! Thanks for confirming, TG 💕
Wow, what a wonderful experience. I so admire your friend for living her dream. Such dedication to her craft is amazing and probably its meditating to spin and work on wools the way she does.
Yes Jean, it was a wonderful experience. Jeanette says spinning is very meditative!
Someone from my old company (an executive actually) recently bought a 7 acre farm and put their fancy smancy home up for sale. Not sure what she is going to do. Horses for sure and rescue dogs. She already had 5 rescued greyhounds in her old home. Whatever it is, it will be her dream. So much more exciting than corporate work.
Amen to that, Kate 💕
Also, I want that bunny.
Get in line! 😆
I love reading about people living their dream… and especially when their dream supports our planet in so many ways. I’m not sure I’d have the energy (let alone the know-how) to live that way but I respect those that do and am happy to support their efforts. I hope you’ll take us along next time you visit Jeanette… and I hope you get to cuddle with some baby lambs.
Thanks Janis 💕 You will definitely see the lambs if I do!
What a wonderful way to live your life, if’n you’ve got that hippy dippy dream going on. I love the photos and the whole idea of transforming your life into something radically different– and then finding out you love it for reals.
Even better when both halves of the couple are on the same page, as in this instance! No “Green Acres” happening here! 😁
Well, you had me at “barn cat” but I love, LOVE this post with all its animals and textile stuff! Your friend Jeannette has really got a lovely thing going!
Agreed! Thanks Tracey 💕
Let me get this straight, Jeanette is a scientist, an environmentalist, heads up a business, operates a farm, takes care of animals, spins, weaves, knits and decorates cakes for starters? She sounds absolutely amazing. Great post!
You got it, Donna 💕 Jeanette is amazing. I forgot to mention on the blog that she also makes sheep milk soap 😁.
Wow! this is so amazing! Thank you for capturing a slice of such a wonderful place!
Sounds like a wonderful place, with an equally wonderful person at the helm. How she has the time to run the farm and create all that produce and craft… Oh for a few of those days with the extra hours, lol.
Well, it’s only 10 acres and her husband helps (although he still has his full-time job in the city). If you love it I guess the time is found and it doesn’t feel like work!
I love stories of people who follow their passion and create a life that is aligned with their values. What an amazing woman. I have a feeling she would be successful at almost anything. Thanks for sharing her story, and your connection.
I think you are right, Suzanne. Jeanette has the fire and smarts to succeed at anything she puts her mind to.
Deb, Jeanette sounds like an amazing woman with fascinating “employees!” I did not know there was a difference between meat sheep and wool sheep. “Align” a perfect word for this year, and always. I look forward to reading about Mennonite bakery and Barbados. Enjoy your trip!
Thank you Erica 💕
Of course you would have a cool friend like this. <3 How fun for you both! She's a keeper and so are you. 🙂
Awww, thank you Mimi💕
It sounds like a dream lifestyle — except for all the hard work behind the scenes. I used to have a greenhouse and big organic vegetable garden, along with several fruit trees. I canned food and made preserves. I don’t think I’d have the energy for it anymore, and that was without 10 acres, animals, and a wool/weaving business to look after. Jeannette sounds like an amazing person!
Jude
Wow, that would be a lot of work too, Jude! I know I don’t have that in me anymore either…if in fact I ever had it. 😜
Wonderful. Proof that social media isn’t all. You’ve got to go out there and meet. That’s the life!
Yes! So true. Thank you 😁
Love the “employee” angle of this post. That is one mighty workforce there. I also very much like the whole wool process as it is beautiful in its own right but it also reminds me how powerfully simple this wool to yarn to cloth process was to the world of geo politics. Ghandi turned the tide on British colonialism by convincing all Indians to instantly stop buying clothes from the West and to start spinning wool. Overnight millions of Indian women started to turn wool into yarn, and yarn into cloth. And India regained its independance. That is some mighty important lesson.
Love the black sheep Phoebe. So pretty. The other night we watched an amazing documentary on Amazon called “Small Little Farm”. In case you have not seen it, I think you and your friend would both really enjoy it. It is aligned with your values, for sure!
Peta
Jeanette recommended that documentary to me 😁! I made sure to watch it before my visit so we could discuss it. Loved it. Thank you Peta 💕
My son recommended it to me as he is an urban farmer. I was blown away by it on so many levels.
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